Did Ndamukong Suh make another dirty Thanksgiving play?

Nov. 22, 2012
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Did Ndamukong Suh do it again? / Screenshot

by Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports

One year after his infamous Thanksgiving stomp against the Green Bay Packers, Ndamukong Suh found himself in the middle of another turkey day controversy.

The Detroit Lions defensive lineman, voted the NFL's dirtiest player two years running, appeared to intentionally kick his left foot at the groin of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub during the annual Thanksgiving game in the Motor City.

Suh was rushing Schaub when he was blocked/tackled by Texans offensive lineman Derek Newton. As he rolled to the turf, Suh fell on all fours, then extended his leg toward Schaub, who doubled over after contact.

Watch Suh's left leg as he falls. He paused ever-so-slightly then appears to extend his foot in a different direction than his momentum.

CBS analyst Phil Simms noticed. "Oh, he got kicked," he said when he saw the replay.

Suh wasn't flagged on the play.

It was Suh's other foot that got him into trouble last Thanksgiving when he stomped on the shoulder of Evan Dietrich-Smith after an on-field tussle. He was suspended two games for the incident.

Earlier this year, Suh was criticized for a vicious tackle that temporarily knocked Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler out of a game. The play was clean and Suh wasn't penalized or fined, but his reputation precedes him.

There's a thin line between tough plays (like the Cutler tackle) and dirty (like the Smith stomp). Suh appears to have crossed it again on another Thanksgiving afternoon.